More passengers and younger

The changing demographic of cruise passengers, with a marked trend towards a younger market, was one of the pleasing aspects of the just released 2018 New Zealand Ocean Source Market Report for Debbie Summers, chair of the NZ Cruise Association.

‘That is hugely positive and I will be making sure it is a statistic that is widely known. One of the misconceptions is that cruising is just for the elderly.’ Much of the report, released to industry and media representatives at ASB Waterfront Theatre in Auckland yesterday, focused on a 14.6% increase in the number of New Zealanders taking an ocean cruise compared with 2017. Kiwis taking an ocean cruise broke through the 100,000 barrier for the first time, reaching a total of 112,000 passengers.

See earlier report in yesterday’s One Minute Memo But the report covered a number of other details.

The average age of the New Zealand cruise passenger dropped from 52 to 51, with around 60% of passengers aged under 60.

The majority of New Zealanders cruised within the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia (69.2%).

Europe / Mediterranean was the most popular long haul region (12.1%).

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia managing director Joel Katz says the report provided backing for Auckland Council’s recently approved plans to improve berthing facilities at the city’s Queens Wharf. ‘Boosting capacity in Auckland will ensure increasing demand among both New Zealanders and international visitors in the future,’ Katz says. ‘This, together with the development of a new cruise berth at Lyttelton to serve Christchurch, gives us confidence New Zealand’s cruise sector will continue to grow well into the future.